Nick Spaling, Craig Smith and Eric Nystrom also scored for the Predators, who won for just the second time in nine games (2-5-2) despite squandering a 3-0 third-period lead. Jones added an assist and Pekka Rinne turned aside 34 shots as Nashville produced one more goal than its total from the previous four contests.

Captain Jason Spezza recorded a goal and two assists while blue-liners Jared Cowen and Marc Methot also tallied for the Senators, who have dropped five of seven. Ales Hemsky notched three assists for the second straight game and Lehner made 12 saves in relief of Craig Anderson, who allowed three goals on 29 shots before leaving with an undisclosed injury.

After a scoreless first period, Spaling got Nashville on the board at 8:20 of the second, when he tipped defenseman Michael Del Zotto's shot from above the slot past Anderson. Smith made it 2-0 at the exact midway point of the session as blue-liner Mattias Ekholm's one-timer from the blue deflected off him and into the net, and Nystrom beat Anderson from the inner edge of the left faceoff circle with 2:28 left in the period after a turnover by Methot.

Ottawa began its comeback attempt at 7:55 of the third as Cowen poked a loose puck on the doorstep past Rinne. Methot beat Rinne from the left circle less than three minutes later to cut the deficit to one and Spezza banged in a loose puck at the left post with 1:07 remaining to forge a tie.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Anderson exited after being run into by teammate Milan Michalek. The veteran netminder had a rough night, as he was shaken up after taking a shot by Nashville D Shea Weber off the mask in the first period and also took a hard shot off his left shoulder that left him in visible pain. ... Ottawa D Cody Ceci was hit on the side of the head with a slap shot by Weber midway through the first period. He sustained a laceration behind his right ear and did not return. ... Smith, who entered the game with career highs in both goals and points (37), is one away from the first 20-tally season of his career.